Neil Gaiman: Production of 'The Sandman' Netflix adaptation on hold due to COVID-19

Image courtesy of DC Comics/Vertigo

It's been a long road trying to get the adaptation of Neil Gaiman's beloved comic series, The Sandman, off the ground. And just as it was about to go into production as a Netflix original, the production got temporarily shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gaiman shared some details over on his Tumblr about where the show was before production stopped. He said, "It's going really well, except it's kind of hibernating right now until people start making TV again. The scripts for the first season are written, casting had started, directors hired, sets were being built. Everything was ready to go into production, and then we moved into a pause. As soon as the world is ready to make TV drama, Sandman will move smoothly back into being made. In the meantime, we are taking the opportunity to get the scripts as good as we can."

While the wait might be too much for some fans, others might be heartened to hear that the production is moving forward. After waiting for the franchise to be turned into a show or movie since the '90s, we're getting closer to this 11-episode Netflix series, and that's something we're looking forward to seeing once this pandemic is over.

Source: IndieWire

DC Comics names new streaming service as DC Universe

DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. announced last year that they were working creating their own digital streaming platform that will have both DC’s animated and live action series. And now the streaming service gets a name: DC Universe. It even gets a landing page on DC Comics’ website, where it’s described as a “first-of-its kind, immersive digital experience designed just for DC fans.” The shows that have already been announced for the platform include the animated Young Justice: Outsiders, animated Harley Quinn series, and live-action versions of Titans and Swamp Thing. There is no word yet when DC Universe will be officially launching but Titans is expected to come out sometime this year, while Swamp Thing is expected to get a 2019 release.

Ava DuVernay will direct DC Comic’s ‘The New Gods’

Director Ava DuVernay continues to break the glass ceiling. Aside from being the first woman of color to direct a movie with over a US$100 million-dollar budget, she will now be the first woman of color to direct a major comic book movie. She has been tapped to helm The New Gods, an upcoming DC Comics movie based on comics by Jack Kirby. Its story focuses on all-powerful beings that live on two different planets—one resembling paradise while another like hell.

It can be considered a dream project for DuVernay as she was quoted on Twitter before admitting that Big Barda from the comics is her favorite superhero. When the news broke out she was directing the film, she tweeted the words, “‘Our dreams make us large.’ Thank you, #JackKirby.”

Source: Refinery29